Director Of Foundation

Experian; England; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Experian is seeking a Director-level executive to lead a newly established international charitable foundation. This role translates strategy into an operating model, grantmaking approach and governance framework across geographies.

You will drive strategy execution, responsible stewardship of charitable funding, risk, compliance and external reputation through partnerships and in-country committees.

Qualifications

• Significant senior experience in a foundation, philanthropy or grantmaking environment.
• Experience working with Boards/Trustees and senior stakeholders, across geographies.
• Strong governance, due diligence, safeguarding, risk and financial stewardship understanding.
• Excellent written and relationship-building skills, with autonomous, strategic delivery.

Responsibilities

• Shape and implement the Foundation's strategy, operating model and governance.
• Lead end-to-end grantmaking, due diligence, funding recommendations and reporting.
• Manage Trustees and international employee committees; represent with charities and funders.
• Maintain governance, safeguarding, due diligence and risk arrangements; coordinate reporting and audits.
• Oversee budgets, spend and forward commitments; measure impact to inform decisions.
• Assess capability needs as the Foundation grows and establish scalable workflows.

Skills

Senior leadership

Grantmaking

Governance

Stakeholder management

Job description

Job Description

The role:

• The Director is the founding executive lead for a newly established international corporate foundation, accountable to the Board of Trustees for translating strategy into an effective operating model, grantmaking approach and governance framework.
• The role combines strategy and hands-on execution, with responsibility for responsible stewardship of charitable funding, risk and compliance, external reputation and delivery through charitable partners and in-country employee committees.
• It operates with high autonomy in a lean, evolving environment and requires influence across Trustees, Experian stakeholders, charities, advisers and partners across multiple geographies.

Responsibilities:

• Strategy and Foundation development - work with Trustees to shape and implement priorities, operating model, policies and long-term direction; build the Foundation's external identity and sector understanding.
• Grantmaking and partnerships - lead the end-to-end grantmaking portfolio, including partner identification, due diligence, risk assessment, funding recommendations, agreements, reporting and relationship management.
• Trustee and stakeholder management - provide clear papers, analysis and recommendations; coordinate international employee committees; represent the Foundation with charities, funders and sector stakeholders.
• Governance, risk and compliance - maintain proportionate governance, safeguarding, due diligence and risk arrangements; coordinate reporting, accounts, audit and specialist advice with relevant stakeholders.
• Financial stewardship and impact - oversee grant budgets, expenditure and forward commitments; ensure learning, measurement and impact inform decisions and future strategy.
• Future capability - assess organisational and resource requirements as the Foundation grows and establish scalable ways of working.

What would success in the role look like?

• A clear and effective Foundation strategy, operating model and governance framework are established and embedded.
• Grantmaking is well governed, financially controlled, aligned to Foundation priorities and supported by strong partner relationships.
• Trustees have high-quality insight, papers and assurance to support effective decisions, with key risks actively managed.
• The Foundation builds a credible external profile, demonstrates measurable impact and develops the capability required for sustainable growth.

Qualifications

• Significant senior experience in a foundation, philanthropy, social impact or grantmaking environment, including substantial or complex funding programmes.
• Experience working with Boards / Trustees and senior stakeholders, including international or multi-geography environments.
• Strong understanding of governance, due diligence, safeguarding, risk and financial stewardship, with sound strategic and operational judgement.
• Excellent written and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to operate autonomously and balance strategic leadership with hands-on delivery.